Villas-Boas has Abramovich backing

Andre Villas-Boas insisted he retains the complete backing of Roman Abramovich and Chelsea's players on Friday, despite his nightmare start to life at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas shrugged off the mounting pressure on him following the Blues' worst beginning to a campaign since Abramovich bought the club eight years ago.

Villas-Boas confirmed he had spoken to the Russian billionaire since Wednesday night's last gasp Champions League defeat at Bayer Leverkusen, and asked if Abramovich had promised to give him time to turn things around, he said simply: "Yes."

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